A man who murdered his friend and landlord, and tried to cover his tracks by sending fake text messages to his victim's family, has been convicted of murder.

Stuart Crawford, 45, of no fixed address beat 67-year-old Michael Ryan to death at his Devonshire Road flat in Sutton on 2 September 2008.

The jury heard how the two men become friends after meeting on holiday in Thailand in 2007 and Mr Ryan kindly offered Crawford a place to stay after he had fallen on hard times.

However, after the killing, Crawford tried to cover his tracks and then fled to Thailand from where he was extradited to face trial.

Crawford moved into Michael Ryan's flat in August 2008 but the relationship soon deteriorated when Mr Ryan suspected Crawford was stealing his mail and bank statements.

Crawford was indeed stealing Mr Ryan's documents and in the days following the murder he used them to fraudulently withdraw £6,500 from his bank account, remaining at the flat with Mr Ryan's body until he had all the money.

Crawford also cruelly used Mr Ryan's mobile telephone to cover up the murder by texting Michael's friends and family to say he was OK and was going away for a few days. However they became suspicious and recognised that the messages were out of character.

The victim's decomposing body was discovered in his locked bedroom by his daughter on 10 September 2008. He had been wrapped in carpet and left behind a bookcase. The police were called and a murder investigation was launched.

Crawford was immediately identified as a suspect but had already fled the country. Extensive enquiries conducted by murder detectives traced him to Thailand and an International Arrest Warrant was issued.

In Thailand Crawford soon spent all of Michael Ryan's money and in desperation contacted the Editor of the Sutton Guardian to demand £20,000 for 'his side of the story'.

The paper cooperated with the police investigation until Crawford was arrested by the Royal Thai Police in August 2010 and extradited back to the UK on 18 January 2011.

During his trial he claimed he acted in self-defence after Mr Ryan attacked him because he wanted him to move out.

However, a post mortem examination revealed Mr Ryan’s injuries were not consistent with this story.

He had suffered blunt force trauma to the head - At least 12 blows that were probably caused by a hammer or a baseball bat. The murder weapon was never found.

Detective Inspector Bob Campany, Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "Crawford's vile behaviour towards a kind and gentle man exhibits him as a very devious and dangerous killer.

"He showed callous disregard for his actions and didn't have the courage to take responsibility by pleading guilty. Undoubtedly the trial compounded the hurt and bewilderment felt by Michael's family and friends," he added.

(BMcC/CD)